Chair



Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE n CHAIR p Frederick GL Brixner, Kansas City, M0.

- Application Aprily 16, 1934, -seria1N0.720,735 s claims. (c1. 24o-4) This invention relates to chairs and more parconnected by a rear wall I6 inclined at the same ticularly to a lounge type reading chair or davenangle as vthe back rest 6 and a vertically positioned port having built in lighting fixtures and has for front Wall I1 having a curved portion I8 merging its principal objects to project diffused light rays into the side wall I5.

at a desired angle upon the reading matter held 1'The walls thus described are supported directly 5 by the occupant of the chair and in suchv a man1- upon the arm rest I0 to form an inner light comner as to not reflect the light rays directly into his partment I9 which is closed at the top by a cover eyes. n l 2B having its rear portion 2|" extending at right Other important objects of the invention are to angles ltolthe rear Wall for mounting an electric 10 provide a simplied ,chair construction having light socket 22, later described. 10` built in light features, to provide for air circula- The rounded front portions I8 are provided tion through the light compartments to carry with rectangular openings 23 in which is mountaway heat of the lamps for promoting comfort edy a frame 24 carrying translucent panels 25 of the occupant, and to provide for selectively conforming in curvature to the rounded poradjusting volume of the light rays to suit` the tions. The panels 25 may be formed of glass, 15 needs of the chairs occupant. f Y frosted, or otherwise treated for diffusing light In accomplishing these and other objects of rays passing therethrough. 4 the invention, as hereinafter described, ,I have yTheinner face of the housings are lined with provided details of structure, the preferred form 'allayer of insulating material 26 which in turn of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawis' covered by a sheet metal liner 21 having 20 ing, wherein: l i i reflecting inner surfaces 28 except for that por- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a lounge chair tion between `the rfront edge 29 of the Window embodying the features of the present invention. openings and the side walls I4, whichsection 3D Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through is painted or otherwise treated to prevent reone of the built in light compartmentson the line fiection of light rays v.which might be directed 25 2 2, Fig- 1. into'the eyes of the occupant of the chair.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View ,onv the line 3--3, Carried in the sockets r22 are light bulbs 3l Fig. 2. n I which are connected in circuit with a plug-in Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionl on the line 4 4, connection 32 that is mounted on the back of 30 Fig. 2. n 'A the chain and to a switch 33 carried on the arm 30 Referring more in detail to the drawing: of the frame member 2, as shown in Fig. 1.

I designates a chair including slide` members 2 The current for the circuit may be suppliedk and 3 connected by suitable cross rails 4 for sup from any convenient wall socket through a flexporting a seat 5 and a back rest 6 inclined at a ible cord having a plug adapted to be insertedV convenient angle to the seat. The side members in the plug connection 32. 35

2 and 3 are preferably ofhollow construction In the yillustrated instance, the light bulb of and open at the bottom as at I for the circulation both fixtures are connected to a common switch; of air therethrough as hereinafter described. The however, the lights may be individually conside frames may also include built in book comnectedwith separate switches whereby the lights 40 partments 8 having shelves 9 for the convenience maybe individually controlled without depart- 40 of the occupant of the chair. ing'from the spirit of the invention.

Built into the side frame members at the junc- Due to the heat generated by the light bulbs, ture of the arm portions I0 with the backrest 6 the light compartments become extremely hot are forwardly extending wings II and I2fhaving and may offer discomfort to the occupant of the light compartments for directing diffused rays of chair; however, I have provided means for cir- 45 light downwardly and acrossl the v`frontV of the'- culating air through the light compartments to occupant of the chair and onto thc reading matter carry away the heat. This is accomplished by or other work heldby the occupant. l r providing the front portion of each compart- By thus directing the light rays, the occupant ment with a tube 34 communicating withthe in'- is provided with suflicient light Aand at the proper terior of the side frames and extending upwardly 50 direction to relieve eye strain incidental to imtoward the front wall I'I as best shown in Fig, '2 properly directed light. whereby cool air admitted through the open- The wings II and I2 are best illustrated in Figs. ings 1 passes through the tube 34 into the light 2, 3 and 4 wherein they are shown as including compartments Where it is directed by the front a closed housing I3 having side walls I4 and I5 walls I'I toward the lamps 3|. The air, upon 55 being heated by the lamps, is discharged through tubular vents 35 carried in the upper rear corners of the wings, as shown in Fig. 2.

In order to control the volume of the light admitted through the panels 25, the openings 23 are adapted to be covered by flexible doors 36 formed of colored Celluloid or the like and which are slidable in guide tracks 31 provided between the end Il and side walls l5 of the housing and a covering material 38 forming a housing 39 for the door panels when they are in retracted position.

The frame 24 is preferably removable from the opening so as to permit access to the interior of the light compartment for the removal and replacement of the light bulbs, when they become burned out.

1n using the chair, the rays from the iightbulbs are reflected by the lining 21 through the translucent panel 25 directly onto the reading matter held by the occupant of the chair and the light rays move at a downwardly inclined angle in front of the body of the occupant so` that if the occupant of the chair is wearingglasses, the light rays Vwill not be reflectedby the lenses thereof into his eyes as is the case bottom vof the chair through the tube 34 to keep upa Vconstant circulation through the compart-- From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a chair with built in light features wherein the light rays are directed ina most expeditious and eflicient manner to promote com fort to the occupant by enhancing the visibility of the reading matter.

`While I have particularly` described myV in-' vention as applied to chairs, it is obvious that the `invention may be carried out in davenports and similar articles of furniture without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a chair including side, seat and back rest members, wing portions built into the juncture of the back rest with the side members and having openingslocated in front j of .an occupant seated in the chair, light sources supported in thawing portions for emitting light rays through the openings, means in the wing portions for circulating air around the light sources, and means covering the opening for diiifusingV the light passing through said openings. Y

2. In combinationwith a chair including side, seat and back rest members, a Wing portion built into the juncture of the back rest with a side member and having an opening located in front of dan occupant seated in the'chair,I a light' source supported in the wing portion for emitting light rays through the opening, an air inlet tube connected With the lower part of the wing portion, and an outlet tube connected with an upper part of the wing portion at a point adjacent the light source. Y

3. In combination with a chair including side, seat and back rest members, a wing portion built into the juncture of the back rest with the side members and having an opening located in front of an occupant seated in the chair, a reector lining the wing portion, a translucent panel closing the opening, `a light source supported in the wing portion for admitting light through the panel, and a shutter slidable across the panel to regulate volume of light rays passing` therethrough. K 1 4. In combination with a chair including side, seat and back rest members, a wing portion built into the juncture of the back rest with the side members and having a rounded front providedwith an opening Alocated in front of an occupant seated in the chair, a light source supported in the wing portion for emitting light rays through the opening, and means covering the opening for diffusing the light passing `through said opening. Y I

5. In combination with a chair including side, seat and back rest members, a wing portion built into the juncture of the back rest withthe side members and having a rounded front provided with an opening located in front of an occupant seated inthe'chair, a light Vsource supported inA the wingr portion for emitting lightv rays through the opening, means in the opening for diffus` ing the light rays, an air inlet tube connected with the lower part of the wing portion, and an outlet tube connected with an upper part of the Wing portion at a point adjacent the light source.

6. In combination with a chair including side, seat and back rest members, a wing portion built into the juncture ofthe back rest with the side members and'h'aving an opening located jin' front of Aan occupant seated in the chair, a reflector lining the wing portion, an insulating material backing the reflector lining, a translucentl panel closing the opening, a lightr source supported in the wing portion for admitting light through the panel', 'and a shutter slidable across the panel to regulate volume of light rays passing therethrough.

7. In combination` witha chair including side,

seat and back rest members, a wing portion built into the juncture of the back rest with the side members and having an `opening located in front of an occupant seated in the chair, a light source supportedv in the wing portion to the rear 'of the occupant for emitting light rays through the opening, and means covering the opening for diffusing the light passingA therethrough.Y

8. In combination with a chair including side,

seat and backrest members, a wingportion built f into'the juncture of the back rest with the sidel members and having an opening located in frontj of the occupant seated in the chair, and a lightV source supported in the wing portion to the rear of the occupant for emitting light rays through the opening.

FREDERICK G. BRIXNER, 

